Even though you know you really shouldn’t [tag-tec]pop pimples[/tag-tec], sometimes, unfortunately, the temptation is just too much. You find yourself continually looking in the mirror, charting the growth of the offending zit. You find yourself acutely aware of it as it seems to be growing bigger, and bigger…..

So if you are going to give into the temptation to pop pimples, at least do it the right way:

Rule #1: Never pop a pimple that hasn’t yet come to a whitehead. If you go digging for a pimple, you are likely to bleed. And where there is bleeding, there is a potential for scarring.

Rule #2: Once you’ve identified the likely candidate (see rule #1), wash your hands. You need to make sure your hands are super clean before you touch your face.

Rule #3: Take two sterile gauze or cotton pads and put them on each side of the pimple. (Bits of kleenex wrapped around the tips of your fingers also works, too.) Press gently on both sides of the pimple and notice is any white pus ejects from the pimple. If it does, keep going, pressing gently until the pimple empties. If you don’t see any white pus, go to Rule #5.

Rule #4: Once you have popped the [tag-ice]pimple[/tag-ice], dab a bit of antiseptic/antibiotic cream on the dot.

Rule #5: If there is no white pus, you need to stop pressing. Don’t put too much pressure on your skin because this can actually drive the bacteria further in- which you don’t want. If you are pretty sure there is a whitehead under there, but it’s just not come to the surface, yet, you might be able to coax it with a salt water compress.

To make the salt water compress: Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a 1/2 cup of warm water. Soak a cotton ball or gauze pad in this solution. Remove the cotton ball and hold it to your zit. The salt may dry out the pimple and help bring it to a head later that day or by the next day.  

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